A/N: I apologize for how long it took to get this chapter up, I've been bombarded with a lot of schoolwork recently so I didn't have much time to write. I love all the reviews I've gotten, some of the questions are spot on and others are a little far off the mark, but I don't want to give too much away up front! I will say that Klaus does have siblings, and they may show up in later chapters! ;) Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter, I added in some excitement to get the ball rolling so I hope it works out! And I'm planning on getting the supernatural ball rolling soon, just trying to make sure the lead in ties together. 33 As always, reviews are absolutely adored, as is constructive criticism, and I always like seeing people make guesses as to what might happen in the future! The usual disclaimer, I don't own TVD, the characters, etc etc.
Lessons to be Learned
"It's just, Jeremy's going so off the rails, I know he's using even though he denies it, and the people he's hanging out with… I'm worried, but I feel like I can't do anything. He shuts me out at every turn! I feel like a bad sister, am I a bad sister?"
"Of course not, Elena. Jeremy's lucky to have a sister like you, he just doesn't know it yet," Caroline replied soothingly. Elena had called her an hour ago, frantic because Jeremy still hadn't come home and wouldn't answer his phone. Ordinarily Caroline would have gotten annoyed at having her ear talked off like that, but Elena had been there for her so many times over the years, and Caroline knew she just needed someone to listen. She knew what that felt like, too. "Look, I'm sure he'll come home soon, he always does, right? I think he's still in shock about… about what happened." Even normally tactless Caroline didn't want to trod so heavily on such a sensitive subject.
Elena sighed into the phone. "I guess you're right. I'm sorry for freaking out to you, you've probably got better things to do than listen to me worrying."
"Oh don't say that, Elena. You'd do the same for me and we both know it. What are friends for?"
She could hear the relief in her friend's tone. "Thanks, Care. I think I just heard the door open, I've gotta make sure it isn't the cops dropping him off again. Thanks for listening, again. I love you, Care, you know that right?"
"Of course. Love you too Elena. Good luck with Jeremy!" After hanging up, Caroline practically collapsed onto her bed. It had been a very long three weeks, what with warding off Klaus' constant flirting, her friends' remarks about said flirting, Tyler having no time for her anymore, plus all the family drama going around. She just wanted to get to sleep and hope that things looked better in the morning.
…...
It was towards the end of third period the next morning that Caroline realized she'd forgotten her chemistry book in her car. She didn't want to have to share Klaus' (and she was fairly sure he'd be all too happy to offer), so as soon as the bell rang she headed for the parking lot to retrieve it.
It was on her way back to the school building that she saw Jeremy (or at least, she was pretty sure it was Jeremy, even though she saw him at a distance) ducking around the side of the building and heading for the back. "That's weird," Caroline muttered. The bell would be ringing soon, and she was pretty sure the back of the school was where all the stoner kids hung out. It was probably going to make her late for class, but she knew Elena would want to hear about this.
Caroline wasn't [i]really[/i] good with stealth, but she managed not to make too much noise as she headed for the back of the school. She wasn't entirely sure what she was going to find, since she'd never had reason to go back there before, but she doubted it'd be more than a few kids smoking weed or whatever it was they did.
She heard raised voices, and what sounded like Jeremy yelling at someone. What was the fight about, she wondered—when she looked around the side of the building and saw who exactly was there, her jaw dropped open in shock. Jeremy was yelling something at Vicki Donovan, Matt's younger sister, but that wasn't the interesting thing. The interesting thing was Tyler, who stepped between Jeremy and Vicki and shoved Jer back, tell him to 'back off my girl, Gilbert'.
Her chemistry book and bag fell from limp fingers, as Caroline slowly processed what, exactly, she was seeing. Both Tyler and Jeremy heard the noise, and Tyler was instantly walking towards her, already spouting excuses. Caroline shook her head, reaching down to grab her things and fighting back tears. "Don't… just don't, Tyler, I don't want to hear it!" she shouted, before turning and heading back for the front door. She broke into a run as the bell rang—she didn't want detention on top of everything else right now.
When she reached her class—slipping into her chair just in time for the bell to ring—she slammed her book down on the table, hoping it would send the very clear message that she was not in the mood to deal with Klaus or that eye thing he liked to do. Unfortunately, he didn't seem to get the memo.
"Are you alright, Caroline? You seem upset."
Caroline rolled her eyes. "Someone give the guy a gold medal for observation," she muttered, refusing to look at him.
Klaus chuckled. "Was it something I said, love?"
"Look, it has nothing to do with you, I'm not your love, and I'm not in the mood. Ok?"
She spent the rest of the period in stony silence, ignoring Klaus' attempts at conversation (and very nearly spilling boiling water on him, for which she broke her silence long enough to apologize and have him offer to finish the experiment). She was still thinking about Tyler, and the sick, angry feeling she'd gotten in the pit of her stomach when she'd seen him with Vicki, and heard him calling Vicki his girl. And to think Tyler had made her feel like an idiot for getting jealous when she thought she'd seen him flirting with one of the other cheerleaders after practice! Mostly she just wanted to cry, but she didn't want to break down in the middle of science class, and she definitely didn't want to in front of Klaus. And no, it didn't have anything to do with how gross she looked with puffy red eyes.
When the bell rang, she couldn't get out of class fast enough. She was at her locker, fighting to shove her book in (and very close to a breakdown because nothing was going right today) when someone grabbed the book from her hands and rested a steadying hand on her shoulder. "Easy, love. You look like you could use some help."
Later she would maintain that the only reason she let Klaus put her books in her locker without retort was because she was too busy taking deep breaths so she didn't tear his head off. "Thanks," she muttered grudgingly, shrugging off his hand. "I think I can take it from here."
"Are you sure?" he asked, finally managing to catch her eyes. It was exactly what Caroline had been avoiding, as now, she didn't want to look away. "I'm headed to the lunch room myself, I could walk you."
Before she could answer, a far less welcome voice sounded down the hall. "Hey, what're you doing with my girlfriend?"
"Oh my God, can't everyone just leave me alone?" Caroline asked, finding her voice again as Tyler approached. "I'm not your girlfriend anymore, Tyler, and I'm not yours either!" she added to Klaus, before turning and walking away. She didn't want to spend any longer looking at Tyler than she had to.
"Listen, Caroline-"
"I don't want to talk to you anymore, Tyler!" Caroline shot over her shoulder, refusing to turn around. "I saw you with Vicki, ok, so just leave me alone!"
"Come on, Care, that didn't mean anything- stop walking away, damn it!"
Tyler grabbed Caroline's arm, spinning her around to face him. "Let go of me!" she yelled, shoving against him with her other arm until he grabbed that, too.
"Not until you stop and listen to me," he practically growled; for the first time, Caroline saw something in his eyes that scared her.
"I believe she asked you to let her go," came Klaus' accented voice from behind Tyler. Caroline didn't want to admit it, but she was almost relieved to hear him.
Tyler let go of Caroline's arms, turning to look at the guy challenging him in his own school. Already a crowd was forming, anticipating a fight. "Who the fuck are you?" He didn't seem to recognize him as the same guy he'd seen at Caroline's locker.
"Niklaus Mikaelson. And who are you?"
Tyler laughed. "You're that new guy, right? Guess that explains it. I'm Tyler Lockwood, and I'm the guy who can make your life Hell if you don't mind your own business."
Klaus chuckled, not seeming at all intimidated. "Is that so, Lockwood?" he asked, a faint challenge in his tone.
"Yeah, it is. Now buzz off, this is between me and my girlfriend."
"Ex-girlfriend!" Caroline spoke up testily. She wanted to leave while Klaus had Tyler distracted, but she didn't want him to get beaten to a pulp over her. "Just shut up and go away, Tyler!"
Klaus laughed. "She doesn't seem to want you, mate."
Tyler looked furious, and Caroline took a step back; she didn't think he would actually hit her, but he was more angry than she'd ever seen him. "She doesn't know what she's talking about!"
"Tyler-" she said warningly, taking another step back as he threw a look her way that she definitely didn't like.
"Not so fast, mate," Klaus said, grabbing Tyler's shoulder.
Caroline winced, knowing what was coming next. "Tyler, don't!"
Too late.
Tyler's hands balled into fists, and he spun around, raising his right fist and aiming for Klaus' face.
Only Klaus' face wasn't there-he'd ducked incredibly quickly, and Tyler's momentum carried him into the row of lockers against the wall. He let out a strangled yell, sounding almost animalistic and even angrier than before, if that were possible.
The fight that followed could hardly be called that. Tyler kept swinging his fists, Klaus kept dodging them and letting Tyler run into the walls. Finally, Klaus slammed his fist into Tyler's stomach, and he dropped like a rock, sliding back into the circle of onlookers.
The crowd was silent for several seconds, surrounding Klaus and Caroline. Their shock was understandable; a lot of people had been beaten up by Tyler Lockwood, but no one had done the beating before.
"Caroline!" Elena and Bonnie pushed through the crowd to stand beside her.
"Oh my God, what happened?" Bonnie gasped, seeing Klaus kneeling next to Tyler whispering something, though none of them could hear what he was saying.
"I broke up with Tyler and he flipped out." Caroline still looked a little shaken. "Klaus told him to leave me alone, even though I didn't need your help," she added, directing that last at Klaus, who had just stood up.
"I apologize, Caroline." He didn't look sorry at all. "It looked like he was bothering you. I only wanted to help."
"Well, I can take care of myself, so don't bother playing the gentleman," Caroline snapped back. She turned then, glancing at Elena and Bonnie. "Let's go, guys. I'm kind of hungry."
"Are you ok, Care?" Elena asked, putting a hand on her friend's shoulder. Caroline really wished they could have just met someplace private. She'd sworn to herself that she wouldn't cry where everyone could see, but it was so hard when talking to her friends.
"No," she finally said, admitting the truth. Elena pulled her and Bonnie into a hug, and Caroline was grateful for the brief shield they made. She felt safe for the first time that day, as she told her friends what she'd seen earlier between Tyler and Vicki. Though she loved Meredith dearly, she was almost glad their fourth Musketeer wasn't here, because she just knew Mer would have some 'I told you so's ready. "Thanks guys," she said a minute later, pulling back and drying her eyes. "I needed that."
"You were a little harsh to Nik, don't you think?" Bonnie asked as they entered the cafeteria. "I mean, he was only trying to help."
Caroline sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I'm just... I'm still kind of shocked, you know? I mean I know Mer's gonna say she saw this coming, but I didn't. And I'm not ready for some guy to try being my White Knight, you know?"
"So if it weren't for Tyler, you'd admit you like Nik?" Elena asked, grinning.
"I didn't say that." But Caroline couldn't help but grin back; if she said she hadn't thought it, she'd have been lying.
...
Caroline was surprised to see her mom's police cruiser parked in front of her house. Normally her mom didn't get home until way after it was dark. "Mom?" she called as she opened the door. "Mom... why are there a bunch of stakes on the table?" she asked as she walked through the dining room. That was definitely going on the list of strange things she'd seen around the house lately.
"Oh, Caroline, you're home already?" her mom asked, looking a little flustered as she gathered up the stakes that were on the table.
"Yeah, school let out an hour ago... what are those even for?" she asked, lifting her eyebrows.
"Just... a little... project the Founder's Council is working on," Liz hedged. Caroline wasn't sure she bought it, but what else could something like that be used for, anyway? "Caroline, why aren't you wearing your bracelet?" Liz suddenly asked. Caroline glanced at her wrist; she didn't remember taking it off.
"I don't know... it must have fallen off or something, at school I guess. Why?"
"Uh, I... it's nothing, I'll just get you another one, ok?"
"Ok, I guess," Caroline replied, rolling her eyes. Why are all the adults acting so weird lately? she wondered. Switching on the television, she could almost see why as the first thing to come up was another news story about strange animal attacks, leaving bodies completely drained of blood. "Jeez, what do we have around here, a giant, killer mosquito?" The question was rhetorical and she was still watching the story, so she didn't see the look Liz gave her.
"I've got to run down to the town hall for a council meeting, will you be ok by yourself?"
"Yeah, mom, I know the rule, no inviting strangers in the house, blah blah blah." She only refrained from saying 'it's not like you're ever around anyway' through sheer force of will. As her mother locked the door behind her, yet another story of bodies found in the woods flashed across the screen. "What is wrong with this town?"